Improved table and camp-chest



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

H. W. BALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED TABLE AND CAMP-CHEST.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,047, dated January 7, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, H. W. BALL, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Combination of a Table and Camp-Chest; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view of my invention in an open state with a portion of the front removed; Fig. 2, a detached open view of the table-top with the legs within it, showing the manner in which the legs and their braces are arranged within the top when the table is not in use; Fig. 3,a transverse vertical section of the camp-chest in a closed state, the table not being bisected; Fig. 4, a detached side view of the table adjusted for use.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to combine a table and camp-chest in such a manner that the table when not in use may be folded up and inclosed within the lid of the chest without at all interfering with articles that may be placed within the body of the chest and also be taken out from the lid unfolded and adjusted for use without removing or interfering in the least With other articles in the chest.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a chest of rectangular form and provided with a lid B,which is connected to the body of the chest by hinges, as usual.

O represents the top of the table, which is formed of two equal parts a a, connected by hinges l) b. The parts a a, are provided each with a ledge or cleatc, all around which form, when the parts d a are folded together, a shallow box.

D represents the legs of the table. These legs may be of the usual form, and each is provided at its upper end with a metal plate d, bent at right angles, so as to form a hook, the width of which is equal to the width or thickness of the upper end of the leg. Each part a of the table-top is provided at its inner side and at its outer corners or angles with a socket e. These sockets may be formed of metal plates bent so as to form loops to ren ceive the hooks d. (See Fig. 4.) Each legD has a metal eye f, driven or secured into it near its upper end to receive, when the table is in use, a metal hook E, said hooks-there being one for each leg-being attached to the inner or under sides of the parts ct d. (See Figs. 2 and 4.)

The parts a a. of the table-top O are of such dimensions that when folded together they will just it into the lid B of the chest and be flush with its lower edges, (see Figs. l and 3,) the top C being secured in the lid by ush bolts g g, which are fitted in the outer surface of one of the parts d. (See Fig. l.)

The legs D,when detached from the top C, are fitted in one of the parts a, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to be inclosed within said parts when the latter are folded together. When the parts a a are folded together, they are secured in such position by a hook h.

The body of the chest A may contain the usual articles designed for camp or army use, and the stove ax and boiler bx,employed in a former invention of mine, may be used equally as Well in this.

The advantages of the invention are obvious. The table does not at all interfere with the other articles in the chest, as said articles need not be'removed from the chest in using the table. The weight of the whole device and contents will not be great. It will admit of being carried with the luggage or baggage of army officers.

I do not claim, broadly, a combined table and camp-chest irrespective of the construction and arrangement herein shown and de scribed, for such devices have been previously patented, although so far as I am aware differing essentially from my device; but

I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The arrangement and construction of the hooks d, sockets e, detachable legs D, and hooks E with each other and with the divided table-top C and camp-chest A, so as to operate together, as set forth.

H. W. BALL.

Witnesses:

RICHARDSON GAWLEY, CHARLES HOLDEN. 

